Inflated valve seat for synchronous breakers

ABSTRACT

A synchronous circuit breaker has a movable interrupting contact which cooperates with a stationary interrupting contact, and also serves as a valve member which seals against an annular valve ring carried on the stationary support. The annular valve member is of a flexible material and is internally inflated to be pressed into full surface-to-surface engagement with the movable contact valve section. The valve is inflated by high-pressure gas used as an interrupting medium in the circuit interrupter and is disposed upstream of the interrupting contacts.

United States Patent [191 McConnell [451 June 28, 1974 INF LATED VALVE SEAT FOR SYNCHRONQUS BREAKERS Primary ExaminerRobert S. Macon [75] Inventor: Lorne D McConnell chalfom Pa Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm0strolenk, Faber, Gerb &

Soffen [73] Assignee: l-T-E Imperial Corporation,

Philadelphia, Pa, ABSTRACT 7 1972 A synchronous circuit breaker has a movable inter- [2 I] Appl. No.: 234,893 rupting contact which cooperates with a stationary interrupting contact, and also serves as a valve member which seals against an annular valve ring carried on 200/148 i ffig the stationary support. The annular valve member is [58] 48 B 148 R of a flexible material and is internally inflated to be 260/148 pressed into full surface-to-surface engagement with g the movable contact valve section. The valve is inflated by high-pressure gas used as an interrupting me- '[56] References Cited dium in the circuit interrupter and is disposed up- UNITED STATES PATENTS stream of the interrupting contacts. 3,495,057 2/1970 Golota 200/148 BV 3,604,872 9/1971 Wilson 200/148 BV l5 Clmms, 28 Drawing Figures slszlisos PATENTED JUN 2 8 I974 SHEU 6 BF 9 www mm mmw NMN mmw www mwN PMTINTEIJJHII u SHEU 5 of 9 Ira-5;

Pmlimimunza m4 SHEEI 9 UP 9 I IA 42% RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is an improvement of copending US. application Ser. No. 823,115, filed May 8, 1969, now US. Pat. No. 3,614,357 of Otto Jensen, entitled GAS BLAST CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER USING MAIN MOVABLE CONTACT AS BLAST VALVE; and is also related to copending US. application Ser. Nos. 257,337, filed May 26, 1972, in the name of Rolf Mockli, entitled GAS BLAST SYNCHRONOUS BREAKER WITH GAS BIASED CONTACTS; 256,932, filed May 29, 1972, in the name of Lorne D. McConnel and Rolf Mockli, entitled COAXIAL CON- DUCTOR CONNECTOR AND GLAND FOR TWO- PRESSURE CIRCUIT BREAKER; and 234,578, filed March 14, 1972, in the name of Lorne D. McConnell, entitled CLOSED CHAMBER WITHIN MOVING CONTACT; all of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to gas blast circuit interrupters, and more specifically relates to a novel gas blast valve construction for a circuit breaker.

Circuit interrupters are known in which a gas blast valve is opened at the' time a pair of interrupting contacts are opened in order to direct av gas blast through the are drawn by the interrupter. contacts. A two-pressure synchronous interrupter using these prin ciples is shown, for example, in above-noted copending application Ser. No. 257,337 as well as in application Ser. No. 823,115 now US. Pat. No. 3,614,357, where the movable. contact also serves as one element of the blast valve. Thus, the moving contact must act as a valve as well as a movable contact for opening a breaker, and must provide a positive sealing action with respect to the stationary structure of the breaker when the breaker is closed.

Where the breaker is a synchronous breaker which is initially opened by the operation of an electrodynamic coil system, the movable interrupter contact must also assume a very closely controlled stop position relative to the driving ring face in order to provide reliable high-speed opening operation. Where conventional valve seats are used, any permanent cold flow indentation of the resilient seat material would cause a leaky seal since the movable contact cannot be moved further into engagement with the deformed seal since its stop position is fixed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a nonresilient stop member is provided for the contact either at the coil face or elsewhere on the contact member while an inflated resilient valve seat is employed to make pressure contact with the contact member. That is to say, in accordance with the broadest features of the present invention, and in application particularly to a synchronous circuit breaker of the type shown in above-noted application Ser. No. 257,337, the blast valve construction has a separate nonresilient stop and a separate resilient valve seat, whereas these two functions were commonly incorporated into the same structure in the past. One specific resilient valve seat which has operated satisfactorily is an inflatable seat which is inflated by the same high pressure which is used in the two-pressure breaker system. It should also .be noted that the valve seat used in the invention is one which is engaged directly and in face-to-face contact with cooperating valve portions of the movable contact so that sliding and movable seal points are avoided.

BREF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one installation of a three-phase breaker using the concepts of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of one of the poles of FIG. 11, and is shown to illustrate the controls and housing of the breaker pole.

FIGS. 3a and 3b are detailed cross-sectional views through the interrupting portion of the pole of FIG. 2, and illustrate the details of the construction of the novel breaker of the invention, with the breaker in the open and closed positions, respectively.

'FIG. 4 is a plan view of the outer contact ring support of FIGS. 3a and 3b.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 taken across thesection line 55 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front plan view of the outer contact plate of FIGS. 3a and 3b.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 taken across the section line 77 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a front plan view of the outer sealing ring of FIGS. 3a and 3h.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 taken across the section line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front plan view of one of the spacer plates of FIGS. 3a and 3b.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 taken across the section line ll1l in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a support casting for supporting the main movable contact of the breaker of FIGS. 3a and 3b.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 12 taken across the section line 13-13 in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of an aluminum casting connected to one of the main aluminum cylinders in FIGS. 3a and 3b.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 14 taken across the section line 15-15 in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a seal retaining ring member used in the device of FIGS. 3a and 3b.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 16 taken across the section line 1717 in FIG. 16.

FIG. 1B is a front plan view of the inner piston guide structure of FIGS. 3a and 312.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 18 taken across the section line 17-l7 in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the seal support ring used for the inflatable seal which cooperates with the movable arcing contact in FIGS. 3a and 31).

FIG. 20a is an enlarged view of a portion of the seal support of FIG. 20.

FIG. 21 shows the flexible mounted seal support ring of FIG. 20 in FIGS. 3a and 3b.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the main segmented contact ring of FIGS. 3a and 3b.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of a few of the contact elements of the contact ring of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a side view of one of the contact elements of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 shows a cross-sectional view of the coaxial cable connector and gland as connected to the tubular input port of the high-pressure chamber of the circuit breaker of FIGS. 30 and 3b.

FIG. 26 is a plan view of the main force of the outer connector Section of FIG. 25.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring first to FIG. 1, there is schematically illustrated a three-phase, high power circuit breaker intended for use in an open bus system. Thus, the circuit breaker consists of three poles 10, 11 and 12 which are mountedon a platform 13, used in order to bring the poles 10, 11 and 12 up to the height of a particular open bus installation. A control cabinet 14 containing all necessary electrical controls including compressors, gas supply, and the like, is coupled to the individual poles 10, 11 and 12 through a control conduit 15 in any conventional desired manner. Each of the poles 10, 11 and 12 are carried in their own support housings 16, 17 and 18, respectively, and contain terminal pairs 1920, 2l22 and 2324, respectively, which are adapted to connect the bus leading from a generator, for example, to a load circuit. 1

Each of the poles of FIG. 1 may generally consist of the structure schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 for the case of pole 10. Note that FIG. 2 is intended to show an over-view of the breaker pole and illustrates in linediagram fashion the manner in which electrical and hydraulic controls are connected to the pole. FIGS. 3a and 3b, to be described later, show the detail of the pole contact structure which is only schematically shown in FIG. 2.

- Thus, in FIG. 2, the terminals 19 and consist of conductive bus connector terminal members and 31, which have conductive fins 32 and 33 extending therefrom. Terminals 30 and 31 are then connected to end caps 34 and 35, respectively, which are connected to the opoosite ends of an elongated insulation housing tube 36. A stationary contact structure 40, to be later described in detail in FIGS. 3a and 3b, is connected to a hollow conductive tube 41, for example, of aluminum, and tube 41 is in turn connected to end cap 34 and terminal 30. A movable contact structure 42, which cooperates with stationary contact 40, is similarly connected to a hollow conductive tube 43 which is, inturn, connected to end cap 35 and terminal 31.

In addition to the connection of contact structures and 42 to the end caps 34 and 35 by conductive tubes 41 and 43, respectively, heat pipes 44 and 45 are also coupled from the stationary and movable contact structures 40 and 42, respectively, to end caps 34 and 35, respectively, in order to rapidly conduct heat away from the contact structures and from the interior of the breaker. Heat pipes 44 and 45 may be of the wellknown type in which a vaporizable fluid is moved from one end of the pipe to another end by capillary action, thereby to substantially decrease the temperature gradient between the ends of the pipe. Note further that the heat pipes 44 and 45 are disposed centrally and generally along the axis of the breaker pole and do not generally interfere with the assembly or constructuion of the main breaker components. Note further that heat pipe 44 may extend through an isolating transformer structure 46, which will be described more fully hereinafter.

The elongated insulation tube 36 is provided with integral flanges 47 and 48 which serve to receive clamping members 49 and 50 which allow the clamping of the insulation housing 36 within the main pole housing 16. Further integral flanges 51 and 52 allow the clamping of skirted insulation rings 53 and 54 on the insulation housing 36. Suitable current transformers 55 and 56 may then be mounted on the insulation cylinders 53 and 54, respectively.

As will be seen more fully hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the stationary and movable contact structures 40 and 42, respectively, serve as a valve section in a barrier between the right-hand and left-hand portions of the interior of the breaker as well as the breaker contacts. Thus, the left-hand portion of the breaker, that is, to the left of contacts 40 and 42, in general, will be filled with sulfur hexafluoride, for example, under relatively high pressure, for example, 14 to 17 atmospheres (200 to 250 p.s.i.g.). This left-hand high-pressure chamber communicates with conduit 57 in a suitable gas supply system. The right-hand side of the breaker is held at relatively low pressure, for exam ple, 2 to 3 atmospheres of sulfur hexafluoride gas (30 to 45 p.si.g.), with the right-hand section of the chamber connected to the gas supply system through conduit 58.

It will be apparent that conduits 57 and 58 will be connected to a suitable compressor and gas filters in order to maintain the necessary pressure differential between the two chambers.

Once the main contacts are open, a downstream cutoff valve, schematically shown in FIG. 2 as the slide valve 59, closes to cut off volume 59a from the remainder of the low-pressure volume. This volume is proportioned to assure adequate gas flow to effect interruption. This volume remains communicated with the high pressure in the open position. Both contact gaps are thus insulated by high-pressure gas providing high dielectric integrity across the open breaker.

Another important feature of the structure of FIG. 2 is that, once the contacts begin to open, the movable contact is further strongly gas-biased by an initial exposure to the high-pressure system, as will be later described. This feature allows the use of synchronous operating techniques for operating the breaker, whereby the breaker interrupter contacts open just prior to a current zero. Thus, the contacts are subjected to very reduced arcing duty.

The novel synchronous operating mechanism will be described hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 3a and 3b, but the control circuitry is illustrated in FIG. 2. This circuitry includes a suitable synchronous pulse generator 60, shown in block diagram form in FIG. 2, which could take the form shown in US. Pat. No. 3,573,548 in the name of Bachofen, entitled CUR- RENT ZERO ANTICIPATING DEVICE, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Thus, the synchronous pulse generator 60 is suitably coupled to the circuit being protected and connected, for example, at terminals 19 and 20 and generates a pulse output immediately prior to a current zero following some input signal directing that the circuit breaker should be opened. The output of generator 60 is then connected to the control electrode of a triggered spark gap 61 which causes the gap to tire, thereby to allow the discharge of a charged bank of capacitors 62 into the primary winding of an isolating transformer 46.

A novel coaxial connection for carrying the discharge current of capacitors 62 into the interiorly disposed isolating transformer 46 is provided, as will be later described. The secondary winding of the isolating transformer 46 is then connected by a coaxial conductor to an electrodynamic operating system which will be described in connection with FIGS. 3a and 3b, which causes the initial opening of the movable contact at a time just prior to the current zero in the system.

There is also provided,'in FIG. 2, a high-speed, threeway gas valve 63 which may be of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,548,877, and which is operable selectively to connect conduit 64 to high gas pressure, or to low-pressure conduit 65 in order to operate the circuit breaker, as' will be-later described.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show, in detail, the contact mechanism and support therethrough used in the pole shown in FIG. 2. In FIGS. 3a and 3b, the pole is shown with a center line, with substantially all components being circularly developed around this center line. The breaker contacts are shown in their open position in FIG. 3a and in their closed position in FIG. 3b.

A first main conductive support body contained within the insulation cylinder 36 consists of the outer contact ring support 70. Outer contact ring support is shown separately in FIGS. 4 and 5 so that its outline can be more clearly followed. It will be noted that. the support 70 contains a' plurality of axially directed openings, such as openings 71 and 72, which surround a central opening 73. In addition, support 70 contains a radial opening 74 which permits high-pressure gas to communicate from the high-pressure conduit 57 through the support 70 and into regions to the left of support 70. The openings, such as openings 71 and 72,

permit this high-pressure gas from conduit 57 to pass to the right of support 70. Support 70 is then bolted to a bolt ring 75 which, in turn, is welded to the right-hand side of conductive cylinder 41. The ring 70 is further tightly fitted within the interior diameter of tube 36, as illustrated.

A reset piston support body is then fitted into the central opening 73 of support 70 and is bolted thereto by suitable bolts, such as bolt 81, shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. A reclosing piston 82, shown in the open position in FIG. 3a and in its closing position in FIG. 3b, is then fitted within the piston support body 80 with suitable sealing rings disposed between its interior and exterior sliding surfaces.

The reclosing piston 82 has a leftwardly extending flange surface 83 which is supported over an inwardly extending neck 84 of a piston support end cap 85, which is suitably bolted to the reclosing piston support body 80. The body 85 further contains a rubber reset stop ring 86 which receives the left-hand end of neck 83 when the piston 82 is reset in the contact open position of FIG. 3a. The piston 82 further contains a rightwardly extending operating shaft 87, which, as will be seen hereinafter, is used to mechanically close the interrupter contact of the breaker. Note that shaft 87 contains apertures 87a and 87b which are connected to a low-pressure region exterior of shaft 87.

In order to operate the piston 82, a conduit 88, which can be connected to high or low pressure by operation of valve 63, is connected to the right-hand surface of piston 82. A conduit 89 and the left-hand surface of piston 82 are always connected to low pressure.

Thus, conduit 88 is connected, through suitable channels in ring support 70, to the interior of a hollow support rod 98 which is, in turn, connected to input channel 64, which is, in turn, connected to the threeway valve 63, as shown in FIG. 2. In an analogous man ner, the conduit 89 is connected through the hollow insulating support rod 91 through other channels which will described hereinafter and ultimately to the input channel 65, which is, again, connected to the three-way valve 63. Accordingly, by suitable operation of the three-way valve 63, channel 88 will be at high pressure or low pressure (and channel 89 remains at low pressure) in order to move the piston 82 to the left, as shown in FIG. 3a. Piston 82 is returned to the position of FIG. 3b by high pressure forces applied during the closing operation, as will be later described.

An outer stationary contact plate 95 is then bolted to the right-hand end of contact support 76. Plate 95 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, where it is seen that there are a plurality of bolt pole openingabout its periphery for receiving bolts, such as bolts openings about a and 95b in FIGS. 3a and 3b for making bolt connection to the support 70. The contact plate 95 defines a radial contact surface 96, which will be seen more fully hereinafter, to slidably receive the main movable contact of the breaker.

Plate 95 further contains channels, such as channels 97 and 98, which are in communication with appropriate openings, such as openings 72 and ,711, respectively, in support 76, where the openings, such as openings 97 and 98 in plate 95 allow high-pressure gas from contact 57 to appear to the right of the plate 95.

An impulse coil, which is used in the electrodynamic drive system, is then supported between contact plate 95 and support 80 and is formed of the composite structure including the insulation ring I00, which carries the spirally wound impulse coil winding 10]. More specifically, winding 101 may consist, for example, of a spirally wound flat conductor, of for example, 23 turns of flat epoxy coated wire. Filament wound epoxy support rings I62 and I03 are embedded in insulation ring 108 to provide strong mechanical support for the coil I01 and, in a similar manner, an outer filament wound epoxy ring 104 contains the outer diameter of insulation body 108.

The start and finish of winding 1011 is then connected to insulated leads, shown partly in dotted lines, as leads 185 and 186, which are taken through suitable openings in insulated body 180. The leads 105 and 106 will be noted to be coaxial leads as they extend from the isolating transformer 46 of FIG. 2 and remain coaxial until they reach the insulation ring I00. Note that these leads may extend through a suitable opening in the support body 80.

The outer contact plate 95 further carries, at its inner diameter, a contact ring I86 which is conventionally formed of inwardly biased contact segments, where the contact 1118 makes sliding contact with the movable arcing contact, to be later described. The contact 118 is held in position on the contact plate 95 by a contact clamping ring and guide 1111 which is appropriately bolted to the contact plate 95.

The movable arcing contact 1112 is then slidably received on the interior diameter of contact III). The movable arcing contact H2 is shown in its disengaged position in FIG. 3a and in its engaged position in FIG. 3b, and is formed of a conductive main sleeve body I113 forming an internal cavity and has an inwardly directed flange 114 and an outwardly directed end flange 115.

The inwardly directed flange 114 threadably receives an inner arcing electrode extension 1140 which has an arcing tip 116. Note that the left-hand end of central member 115 is engageable by the right-hand end of extension 87 of piston 82. The flange 115, as will be described more fully hereinafter, serves as a shorted winding which is closely coupled to impulse winding 101 when the arcing contact is in the closed position. Thus, if the impulse winding 101 is energized while the contact is in the closed position shown in FIG. 3b, extremely high magnetic forces arise, which rapidly move the movable arcing contact 112 to the left.

A buffer 117 is contained in the support body 80 and damps the impact of the movable arcing contact 112 when it reaches its fully open position in FIG. 3a. Further, the pressure differential across Contact 112, clue to high pressure on its right-hand face and low pressure on its left-hand face, serves to bias the contact in the open position, holding it positively in the full open position and preventing any rebound. The extreme right-hand end of contact 112 then contains an orifice-shaped, inwardly bent arcing contact tip 118, which will be described more fully hereinafter. Note further that the orifice 118 leads to the closed volume or internal cavity formed within the interior of the movable contact 112, thereby to enable gas blast into the interior of the contact, thereby to allow axial gas flow in two directions, as will be later described.

All of the above-described structure in FIGS. 3a and 3b is generally supported from the main outer contact ring support 70. Spaced from this structure is the structure which carries the main movable contact and the stationary arcing contact, to be more fully described hereinafter. This structure generally includes an outer sealing ring 130 which is fitted within the tube 36 and contains a lower aperture 131 and a central annular depression 132, as further shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

Sealing ring 130 has a protruding notch 133 extending from the side thereof which nests into an annular notch in the side of spacer plate 134. The spacer plate 134 is spaced from spacer plate 135 which is contained on support 70 and the spacer plates 134 and 135 are held apart by spacer rods including rods 90'and 91.

A plurality of spacer rods, similar to rods 90 and 91, are mounted around the periphery of the spacer plates 134 and 135. By way of example, the spacer plate 135 is shown in FIGS. and 11 and is constructed of aluminum and contains a plurality of openings around the side surface thereof including openings 138 and 139. The facing surface of spacer plate 134 will have similar openings disposed therein, with a plurality ofinsulation spacer rods, such as rods 90 and 91 being captured between opposing pairs of openings in the spacer plates 134 and 135. The spacer rods themselves may be epoxy glass rods having central channels so that certain of the rods may conduct gas as a part of the gas control system for operating the breaker, as was previously referred to.

The casting 140 is shown by itself in FIGS. 12 and 13 and it will be seen that the casting contains a plurality of L-shaped openings 141 through 146. It will be seen more fully hereinafter that L-shaped openings 141 to 146 are in the channel through which high-pressure gas flows to the low-pressure region during the closing operation. A further L-shaped opening 147 is provided in casting and communicates between conduit 65 and the low-pressure region of the breaker to act as a discharge passage to discharge the high-pressure gas from volume 59a during the closing of the breaker.

The casing 140, as best shown in FIG. 13, further contains a plurality of openings including funnelshaped openings 148 and 149 extending radially through the left-hand end of the member 140. It will be seen that these openings permit control of gas pressure on the main movable contact from conduit 64 when the three-way valve 63 is operated.

The adapter casting then receives, on its left-hand end, a piston stop member 150 which is a simple ring bolted into the left-hand end of adapter 140. The piston stop member 150 carries a sliding seal ring 151 and a rubber stop ring 152.

A ring 160, best shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, is welded to the end of aluminum cylinder 43 and is provided with internal notches 161 to 166. These notches are generally aligned with openings 141 through 146, respectively, in adapter 140 of FIGS. 12 and 13.

A further notch 167 is also provided in member and is in alignment with opening 147 of member 140. Thus, the openings 141 through 147 of member 140 are in communication with the volume within the main low-pressure region within conductive cylinder 43.

For ease of manufacturing, a second ring-shaped member 170, having notched sections in alignment with the notches 161 to 167 of member 160 is clamped between member 160 and the right-hand end of member 140.

A sea] retainer ring 171 is then disposed within ring 170 and is bolted to the right-hand end of an inner piston guide casting 172, which will be later described. The right-hand surface of ring 171 has a plate 171a welded thereacross to prevent gas flow through the region in the interior of ring 171. The body of seal retainer 171 is machined from an aluminum casting and contains a series of bolt openings which receive bolts, such as bolts 173 and 174, which are bolted into member 172. Ring 171 then receives a seal retainer insert 175 which consists of an aluminum ring having a plurality of individual channels, such as channels 176 and 177 therethrough.

Each of the individual openings, such as openings 176 and 177 are connected together by an annular channel 178 in one wall of the ring 175. Ring 175 is better illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17 which more clearly show the channel 178 which joins the openings 176, 177 along with additional openings 179 to 182. It should also be noted that the main ring member 171 contains a passageway therein, shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b as the passageway 190, which communicates with the annular channel 178.

A ring-shaped piston seal member having a generally U shape in section, shown as ring 191 in FIGS. 3a and 3b, is then captured under the seal retainer 175, with the inner periphery of ring 191 being under pressure from member 172 while the outer diameter region of seal 191 is under pressure from the member 147. The seal 191 is of a flexible material, such as rubber, and may be inflated by gas under pressure which is connected beneath the seal by gas admitted to channel 190, and thus into the openings, such as openings 176 and 177 in the seal retainer 175. Thus, the seal 191 may be inflated in order to achieve a good seal relative to the main movable piston member attached to the movable contact independently of seal wear and permanent seal deformation, as will be later described.

. The inner piston guide casting 172 is shown in detail in FIGS; 18 and 19 and is held in position from the ring 171, therebyto be supported ultimatelyfrom the outer housing 36. It will be noted that a gas conducting conduit 200 is formed in the member 172 with the channel 200 ultimatelycommunicating, to the left of FIG. 3b, to the area immediately adjacent plate 95 including opening 98. Thus, high-pressure gas is applied to the channel 200'so that high-pressure gas is available to inflate the seal 191.

FIGS. 18 and 19 also show the presence of radially directed openings 172a and l72b (FIG. 19) and further opening 172e in FIG. 3b. These radially directed openings form 7 flow. channels for the passage of highpressure gas from the high pressure system during the interruption operation, with this gas continuing to flow through the aligned openings formed on members 170 and 160, described above.

' A plurality of bolt openings including opening 201 are formed inmember 172 to receive'bolts which connect pivot ring 201a in position. Pivot ring 201a supports the flexible contacts of the stationary arcing contact structure, and also has bolted thereto the arcing contactring 202. Arcing contact ring 202 has con nected thereto a central arcing contact body 203. Areing contact body 203 has an arcing ring tip 204, as shown.

As shown in FIGS. 3a' and 3b, the member172 also carries therein a rubber buffer ring 210, where the buffer ring 210 acts as a shock absorbing stop for the motion of the main piston 211. The main piston 211, which will be described more fully hereinafter, is supported on its exterior by the interior diameter of member 147 and contains a rightwardly extending portion 212 which serves as adownstream cutoff valve in cooperation with the inflatable seal 191. Thus, when the circuit breaker is in the open position of FIG. 3a, the right-hand most end of member 212 is pressed into firm sealing engagement with flexible ring 191 which flexes in order to form a good gas-tight seal with the end of member 212, thereby enclosing'the volume 59a of FIGS. 3a and 3!: prior to the operation of interrupting contact 112. The main piston 211 is slidably suported by member 147, as previously indicated, with a sliding seal ring 213 disposed between these members, and is also slidably supported relative to member l72 with a sliding seal ring 214 disposed between members 172 and 212. A furthersliding seal ring 215 is disposed between ring 150, which also slidably supports the lefthand outer diameter portion of piston 210.

The outer diameter of themain piston 211 has a contact ring 216 connected thereto which makes sliding contact engagement with surface 96 of contact plate 95. Contact ring 216 is of the segmented contact type, with the individual segments of the ring being spring-biased radially outwardly relative to one another in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. Thus, as shown in FIG. 22, the ring 216 consists of a plurality of individual segments, such as segments 300, 301, 302 .and 303. These segments are shown in enlarged fashion in FIG. 23 toillustrate the presence of biasing spring means 304,305, 306 and 307, respectively. Spring-biasing means 305 has been shown in some detail to illustrate the presence of biasing spring washers 308 and 309 carried on a button spacer 310,

such that the fingers 300 and 301 are pressed away from one another. Each of the spring-biased elements will be constructed in this manner for each of the contact elements. Each of the contact elements also have bolt pole openings 315 to 318 and a notch section, shown for the case of finger 300 in FIG. 24 as notch 319.

The individual fingers are then individually and pivotally bolted into the end of main contact piston 211, as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, by the bolts 320 and 321 for contact fingers 300 and a further contact finger 322, respectively. Note that the main contact piston 211 contains an inwardly directed protrusion 323 which receives the notches of the contact fingers such as notch 319 of finger 300. This contact operation will be described more fully hereinafter.

The member 172 also receives an inner contact body 220 which is bolted thereto as by bolts 221 and 222 of a ring of bolts displosed circularly around the axis of inner contact body 220. The outer diameter 223 of inner contact body 220 also slidably receives the contact ring 216 attached to the main piston 211. The inner contact body 222 along with body 172 then serves to support the flexible arcing contact structure which cooperates with the movable arcing contact 1 12.

More specifically, a plurality of finger contacts extend around the interior of bodies 172 and 220, two of which are shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b as the finger contacts 230 and 231. Typically, eighteen such fingers may be disposedin a cylindrical cluster, each mounted in an identical manner between the members 172 and 220. In the case of contact fingers 230 and 231, the right-hand ends are captured beneath the flange 232 of member 201a and are pressed against the exterior of flange 232 by biasing springs 233 and 234, respectively.

' as stops 242 and 243 which control the inward motion of the fingers and thus the nozzle opening.

. An intermediate plate 250 and contact guide plate 251 are then bolted to member 220. A flexible seal 252 is wrapped over a seal support ring 253 and is captured between plates 250 and 251. The seal support 253, which may be of brass, and the seal ring 252, are shown in cross-section in FIGS. 20 and 21, respectively, so that their structures can be more clearly understood. Note that plate 251 and plate 250 contain aligned openings, such as openings 260 and 261, respectively, which allow high-pressure gas, to the left of plate 250, to inflate the seal 252 through openings in sea] support 253, such as the openings 253a and 253b shown in FIG. 20. Additional openings through the seal support may also be provided around the periphery of ring 253. Each of these openings are joined together by an annular channel 2530 in the rear surface of support 253, as clearly shown in FIG. 20 as well as FIG. 20a, which is an enlarged view of channel 2530, where it receives opening 253a. In addition, it will be noted that there is a radial slot253d leading from channel 253C and open- 253a and the corresponding openings in plates 250 and 251.

The movable arcing contact contains a slightly raised annular protrusion 263 which cooperates with seal 252 by pressing against the seal when the arcing contacts are engaged.

Each of the individual arcing fingers are then provided with arcing tips, such as arcing tips 265 and 266 for arcing contacts 230 and 231, respectively. The ring of arcing contacts on the individual contact fingers then engage the protruding nose terminating in orifice 118 of the contact 112 when the arcing contacts are closed.

It is now possible to consider the operation of the breaker shown in FIGS. 30 and 31).

CURRENT PATH WHEN BREAKER CONTACTS ARE CLOSED It is first assumed that the breaker contacts are in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 3a. In this closed position, the main contact of the interrupter, consisting of the contact ring 216 carried on main piston 211, is electrically connected between surface 96 of contact plate 95 and the outer surface of inner contact body 220. The arcing contacts are also engaged where, for example, the extending nose 118 of arcing contact 112 is in engagement with the contact fingers of the stationary arcing contact including contact fingers 230.

The main current carrying path thus consists of a path extending from one terminal of the pole of the breaker, for example, pole 19 in FIG. 2, to the conductive cylinder 41, to adapter 75, tomember 70, to contact plate 95 from surface 96 of contact plate 95 into the contact fingers of main contact ring 216, from the other contact surface of the contact fingers of contact 216 into the inner contact member 220, conductive member 172, member 171, member 170, adapter ring 160, conductive tube 43 and thence out to the opposite terminal of the pole, such as terminal 20 of FIG. 2. A small parallel current flow exists through the interrupter or arcing contacts, including arcing contacts 110 and 112.

GAS PRESSURES WITH CONTACTS CLOSED As pointed out previously, sulfur hexafluoride or some other suitable dielectric gas or mixtures thereof at high pressure, is connected to conduit 57 while a relatively low pressure gas is connected to conduit 58. Where SP is used as the dielectric medium, conduit 57 might be at about l4 atmospheres, whereas conduit 58 might be at about 3 atmospheres. These two conduits are, of course, suitably connected to an appropriate compressor and filters (not shown) so that the two pressures can be suitably maintained. Similarly, any appropriate monitoring system may be used for monitoring pressures and temperatures of the gas in the breaker and operating the compressor in response to predetermined pressure and temperature conditions.

With the circuit breaker in its closed position, the blast valve formed between protrusion 236 of the interruption contact 112 and inflated seal 252 is closed. In general, all spaces to the left of this valve in FIGS. 3a and 3b are at high pressure while those regions to the right are at low pressure. Note that the valve is formed immediately adjacent the cooperating interrupting contact surfaces so that, immediately upon interruption operation, gas flow is available to play radially through the arc. It will be further noted that the blast valve is formed between the interrupter contacts and the main contacts (contact ring 216 which bridges between members 95 and 220) so that the main circuit breaker contacts, which need not have interrupting capacity, are disposed in high pressure gas at all times. Thus, the maximum travel of the main movable Contact ring 216 is decreased since high voltages cam be supported by relatively short distances in SF,, under pressure.

The high-pressure gas from conduit 57 fills the region surrounding spacer rods and 91 and the channels, such as channel 74 in menber 70 to fill the main highpressure region 400. Note that the isolating transformer of FIG. 2 (not shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b) will be disposed in this high-pressure gas so that the transformer can be made relatively small, since points of relatively high voltage difference can be closer than they normally would be if the transformer was disposed in a lower pressure medium. A further conduit 401 (FIGS. 2 and 3a) is connected into the high-pressure region 400, but this conduit is used to conduct coaxial cable connectors to the isolating transformer and from the discharged capacitors 62 of FIG. 2, and the conduit 401 is normally closed to prevent escape of the highpressure gas from region 400. This same high-pressure gas from conduit 57 appears on the right-hand surface of plate 95 communicating therewith through openings 97 and 98. The high-pressure gas is further prevented from seeping past the outside diameter of main piston 211 by the sliding seal 215.

Low-pressure gas from conduit 58 fills the lowpressure region 402, with this low-pressure extending through the components in members and and then through the openings, such as openings 141 in member 140 and then through the gap to the right of the open end of piston 211 which is not now in sealing engagement with sealing 191 through the openings, such as openings 172a and 172e in member 172 and then up to the valve formed between arcing contact 112 and seal 252.

Low-pressure gas also fills gas passages 89 and 91, which communicate at all times with low-pressure region 402. The volume to the left of member 82 is thus at low pressure, as is the region to the left of arcing contact 112 which communicates with the region within rod 87 through openings 87a and 87b.

Control pressures are also applied through the threeway valve 62 in FIG. 2, such that conduit 88 of FIGS. 3a and 3b is at high pressure, so that the piston 82 is retracted to its left-hand position, as shown in FIG. 3a. Moreover, while the breaker is closed, three-wave valve 63 seals off the possible interconnection of conduits 64 and 65.

OPENING OPERATION In order to open the breaker (from the position of FIG. 3b), a trip signal is first derived from some suitable relay source (not shown). This trip signal circuit is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 as the trip circuit 410. Trip circuit 410 delivers a signal to the three-way valve 63 which is so arranged that, in FIG. 3a, conduit 64 is switched from low pressure (due to its prior connection to conduit 65) to high pressure and sealed off from conduit 65. The switch to high pressure in conduit 13 64 causes the application of high pressure against surface 412 of piston 211. At the same time, thehigh pressure against surface 411 of piston 211 is exhausted into low-pressure conduit 65.

Accordingly, the main piston 211 moves rapidly to the right, opening the main contact surfaces and commutating the current through the breaker into the interrupter contacts. At the same time, the high pressure in conduit 64 allows piston 82 to retract to the left, thereby to unblock the interrupter contact 112 and leaving the interrupter contact 112 held in position solely by the contact biasing forces and frictional forces which hold contact 112 in its closedjcondition.

.When pistons 82 and 211 move to the breaker open position, pressure in the operating valve manifold and conduit 64 builds up toward their full high pressure level. When thisoccurs, in a time of the order of 40 milliseconds, a pressure responsive switch is operated to energize the output circuit of thesynchronous pulse generator 60. Output voltage pulses from this generator are then allowed, through suitable control circuitry, to cause the triggering of gap 61 of FIG. 2 and the discharge of capacitors 62 into the isolating transformer 46 and-then into the impulse coil 101. Such pulses are next upcoming primary current zero.

The pulse current in the impulse coil 101 then causes a strong electromagnetic repulsive force between coil 101 and the flange 1150f interrupter contact 112, so that the contact 1l2 begins to move to the left, thereby opening the seal between the circular valve seat 263 on interrupter contact 112 and the inflated valve seal 252. Note that at the time the seal breaks, that the arcing contact 118 and the arcing finger contacts including contacts 230 and 231 are still engaged. With the breaking of the seal, however, high-pressure gas surrounding the interrupter contact now bears against the righthand surface of the interrupter contact contained within valve seat protrusion 263 so that a strong gas pressure force is immediately added to the electrodycontact 112, which was at low pressure, and can also flow to the right and toward the arcing contact tip 204.-

This two-directional flow of gas is advantageous in the interruption of the arc. It should also be noted that valve seat 253 is upstream of any arc products produced during blast of gasthrough the arcs, and therefore, will not be contaminated or subject to burning by the are.

It will be noted that the specific components are preferably designed such that a gas blast is obtained about 0.5 milliseconds before current zero. This established gas blast will extinguish the current at the next current zero.

Gas flow continues untilthe closed volume 59a is filledwith high pressure SF Note that the separated contacts, including separated interrupter contacts 112 and the contact fingers 230 and 231 are held open in high-pressure gas and so that relatively small gaps can be used to support a relatively high line voltage.

Since the contacts are open just prior to a current zero, the arc energy is extremely limited, so that the breaker will also have excellent dielectric recovery interruption.

The system also employs advantageous mechanicalpneumatic damping structures. Thus, the piston 82 has its end motion damped by engaging the buffer 86. Similarly, the motion of contact 112 is ultimately damped by the buffer 117. Again, the motion of the third moving part-piston 212, is damped by buffer 210. Thus, rubber stops, which may be of any suitable material other than rubber, act to absorb a significant part of the CLOSING OPERATION operation In order to close the circuit breaker when it is in the open position shown in FIG. 3a, a closing signal is applied to the three-way valve 63, such that conduit 64 is connected to low-pressure conduit 65. Consequently, conduit 88 assumes a low pressure, so that the piston 82 is moved to the right with its extension 87 picking up movable contact 112 to move contact 112 to the right and toward its contact engaged position. At the same time, the pressure on surface 412 of piston 211 is reduced, so that the piston 211 is moved to the left and toward its contact closed position. Note that during this movement to the left, that the downstream cutoff valve formed by the engagement of sleeve 212 and seal 191 is open, thereby exhausting the high-pressure gas to the left of plate 171a and within volume 59a, and removing the pressure on the right-hand facing surface of the interrupter contact 112.

The interrupter contact 112 then closes prior to the closing of the main contact 216 carried on piston 211 and the system is then held in the closed position and is prepared for the next opening operation.

INTERNAL CAVITY IN MOVABLE CONTACT In the specific design of interrupter contact 112, to obtain preferred dual axial flow of the high-pressure sulfux hexafluoride gas during interruption, the interior of the closed chamber within the contact should have a volume to permit flow of gas into the chamber during the relatively short arcing period. Since the breaker is a synchronous circuit breaker, this will be a relatively short arcing period, for example, 0.75 milliseconds, so

' that the interrupter contact closed volume can be relatively small.

The ability for gas to flow into the enclosed chamber within contact 112 will be controlled to a large measure by the opening size of orifice 118. Thus, the movable contact nozzle opening for orifice 118 could be from one-fourth inches to three-fourth inches, which would provide sonic flow capability time periods of from 22.5 milliseconds to 2.5 milliseconds, respectively, for filling the chamber.

In a preferred form of the contact construction, the internal chamber had adiameter of about 2 5/l6ths inches and an axial length of approximately 2 inches.

The nozzle opening for the center of orifice 118 was approximately five-eighths of an inch. It was found that the use of the closed chamber to produce a dual axial flow of gas during interruption operation increased interrupting performance of the circuit breaker by from to percent as compared to the same form of contact system tested without the auxiliary nozzle added to the movable contact.

COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTION AND GLAND FIGS. 25 and 26 illustrate the structure which connects a coaxial cable from the capacitor bank 62 of FIG. 2 and into the isolation transformer 46 of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 25, there is illustrated a coaxial cable 430 which is fastened, for example, to the isolation transformer 46, and which must be taken out through the tubular member 401, to be connected to a coaxial cable section 431 coming from the capacitor bank 62 of FIG. 2. Both coaxial cables 430 and 431 may be identical in construction and consist generally of inner conductors 432 and 433, respectively, and outer conductors 434 and 435, respectively, with the inner and outer conductors spaced from one another by conventional insulation mediums.

FIG. 25 further shows that tubular member 401 terminates in an extending flange 440, which has a circle of bolt openings therethrough including bolt openings 441 and 442. In preparing the coaxial cables 430 and 431 for connection together in the novel connector of FIG. 25, a tubular connector 450 is connected to the interior conductor 432 of cable 430 and is provided with an end surface having an inwardly tapering conical depression. In a similar manner, the central conductor 433 of cable 431 has secured at its end a conical member 451, which has a mating outwardly tapered conical end surface which can make pressure connection with the inwardly tapering surface of connector 450. Both members 450 and 451 are of any suitable conductive mateiral, such as copper.

A plastic sleeve 452, which may be of polytetrafluoroethylene, is formed on the coaxial cable 430 and nests over the adapter head 450 as shown. Moreover, the outer conductor 434 is bent outwardly and over the outer surface of insulation sleeve 452. In a similar manner, an insulation sleeve 453 is formed .over the coaxial conductor 431, with member 453 being designed to nest into the end portion of member 452, as shown in F IG.' 25.

The outer conductor 435 is also arranged to extend over the outer surface of member 453. A sealing ring 454 is then placed over insulation member 452, as shown, and a clamping plate 455, which may be of brass, is pressed over the cable 430 and has the outer conductor 434 connected thereto.

A plurality of bo|ts,including bolts 456 and 457, bolt the member 455 to the adapter 460, thereby applying pressure against the seal 454. The adapter 460 is fitted over the coaxial cable 431 and the plastic sleeves 452 and 453 and compresses rubber gasket 461 against insulation sleeve 453 as shown.

As shown in FIG. 26, the adapter 460 has an enlarged flange 462 which contains a plurality of bolt openings,

including bolt openings 463 and 464, which are aligned with the pole openings in flange 440, such as openings 441 and 442, respectively. Note that FIG. 26 also shows the position of threaded openings, such as openings 465 and 466 which receive the bolts 456 and 457, respectively, of FIG. 25.

A plurality of bolts, including bolts 470 and 471, are then used to bolt the flange 462 of member 460 to the flange 440 of member 401, with a sealing ring 472 being compressed between these two bodies.

In the installation of the coaxial connector of FIG. 25, the installer will simply bring the cable 430 with its pre-attached members 455 and 452 slightly out of the tube 401. He will then connect this subassembly to the subassembly including cable 431 with pre-attached members 460 and 453 by bolts such as bolts 456 and 457. This connection will forcibly connect the cooperating conical surfaces of adapters 450 and 451, thereby to make electrical connection between the central conductors 432 and 433. At the same time, the outer conductors 434 and 435 will be connected through the brass bodies of members 455 and 460. Thereafter, the connected members are bolted to the end of flange 440 by bolts, such as bolts 470 and 471.

It will be noted that a complete gas barrier is formed across the end of tube 401 so that the interior of the cirucit breaker housing 36 can be safely filled with high-pressure gas. Note further that the seals 454 and 461 prevent gas leakage through the individual coaxial cable adapters.

Although this invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments, it should be understood that many variations and modifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the scope of the this invention is limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a high-voltage circuit interrupter, a valve structure; said high-voltage circuit interrupter comprising:

a stationary contact having a central orifice therethrough;

a movable cylindrically shaped contact axially movable from an axially spaced and disengaged position relative to said stationary contact to an engaged position relative to said stationary contact;

an annular ring-shaped valve seat disposed on a side surface of said stationary contact and surrounding said orifice and facing said movable contact;

an annular ring-shaped protrusion on said movable contact on a surface thereof facing said ringshaped valve seat and being engageable in sealing relation with said valve seat when said movable contact moves to its said engaged position;

gas pressure source means for forcing gas through said orifice when said ring-shaped protrusion moves out of sealing engagement with said ringshaped valve seat;

said annular ring-shaped valve seat consisting of a ring which is elastically deflectable over a relatively large axial distance, and which is free of permanent axial distortion, whereby said movable contact can always assume a precise axial position when engaging said stationary contact without jeopardizing the integrity of the seal at said annular ring-shaped valve seat due to slight wear thereat.

2. The circuit interrupter of claim 1 wherein said annular ring-shaped valve seat is inflated and, thereby is flexibly distorted toward said movable contact.

3. The circuit interrupter of claim 2 wherein said annular ring-shaped valve seat is internally connected to said gas pressure source means.

4. The circuit interrupter of claim 2 which further includes a downstream cutoff valve positioned downstream of said orifice and including an axially movable cylindrical sleeve and a second annular ring-shaped valve seat engageable by one end of said cylindrical sleeve; said second annular ring-shaped valve seat being inflated and, thereby, being flexibly distorted toward said end of said cylindrical sleeve.

5. The circuit interrupter of claim 4 wherein said annular ring-shaped valve seat and said second annular ring-shaped valve seat are internally connected to said gas pressure source means.

6, The circuit interrupter of claim 2 wherein said annular ring-shaped valve seat includes a circular frame member, a flexible diaphragm disposed on said frame member, and annular clamping plates for clamping said diaphragm over said circular frame member; said circular frame member having apertures therethrough for introducing gas pressure against one surface of said flexible diaphragm.

7. The circuit interrupter of claim 6 wherein said apertures are connected to said gas pressure source means.

8. The circuit interrupter of claim 1 wherein said annular ring-shaped protrusion is disposed radially outwardly .of the contact region between said movable and stationary contacts, whereby said valve structure is upstream of any arc products created during the opening of said contacts.

9. A valve structure for a synchronously operated high-voltage circuit interrupter; said high-voltage circuit interrupter comprising:

a stationary contact haing a central orifice there through;

a movable cylindrically shaped contact axially movable from an axially spaced and disengaged position relative to said stationary contact to an engaged position relative to said stationary contact;

a synchronous operating mechanism including a stationarily positioned impulse coil and a conductive ring connected to said movable contact for cooperating with said impulse coil; said impulse coil and conductive ring being closely coupled to one another along their side surfaces perpendicular to the axis of said movable contact when said movable contact is in its said engaged position; said movable contact being accelerated toward its said disengaged position responsive to energization of said impulse coil;

an annular ring-shaped valve seat disposed on a side surface of said stationary contact and surrounding said orifice and facing said movable contact;

an annular ring-shaped protrusion on said movable contact on a surface thereof facing said ringshaped valve seat and being engageable in sealing relation with said valve seat when said movable contact moves to its said engaged position;

gas pressure source means for forcing gas through said orifice when said ring-shaped protrusion moves out of sealing engagement with said ringshaped valve seat;

said annular ring-shaped valve seat consisting of a ring which is elastically deflectable over a relatively large axial distance, and which is free of permanent axial distortion, whereby said movable contact can always assume a precise axial position when engaging said stationary contact without jeopardizing the integrity of the seal at said annular ring-shaped valve seat due to slight wear thereat.

ill. The circuit interrupter of claim 9 wherein said annular ring-shaped valve seat is inflated and, thereby, is flexibly distorted toward said movable contact.

11. The circuit interrupter of claim 10 wherein said annular ring-shaped valve seat is internally connected to said gas pressure source means.

12. The circuit interrupter of claim 10 wherein said annular ring-shaped valve seat includes a circular frame member, a flexible diaphragm disposed on said frame member, and annular clamping plates for clamping said diaphragm over said circular frame member; said circular frame member having apertures therethrough for introducing gas pressure against one surface of said flexible diaphragm.

13. A two-pressure gas blast synchronous circuit interrupter comprising, in combination:

a pressure container having a high-pressure volume and a low-pressure volume, and means for connecting high-pressure gas and low-pressure gas to said high and low-pressure volumes, respectively;

a main stationary contact and a main movable contact cooperable therewith mounted within said pressure container; said main movable contact consisting of a hollow cylindrical member movable along its axis between an engaged and disengaged position relative to said main stationary contact;

a stationary arcing contact having an orifice therethrough communicable between said high and lowpressure volumes and a movable arcing contact co operable therewith mounted within said pressure container; said stationary arcing contact comprising an elongated hollow cylindrical member movable along its axis and being coaxial with said main movable contact and disposed internally within said hollow cylindrical member defining said main movable contact;

a blast valve for permitting communication between said high and low-pressure volumes and comprising a circular sealing ring mounted around said orifice in said stationary arcing contact and a cooperating annular sealing means on one end surface of said movable arcing contact which moves into and out of sealing engagement with said circular sealing ring when said movable arcing contact moves to an engaged and disengaged position respectively with respect to said stationary arcing contact; said stationary and movable arcing contacts making contact within the interior of said circular sealing ring and said low-pressure volume extending into the interior of said orifice in said stationary arcing contact, whereby, when said movable arcing contact moves to a disengaged position, gas is moved from said high-pressure volume and through said arcing contacts and through said orifree;

and impulse coil means stationarily positioned relative to said movable arcing contact and impulse coil cooperating means formed on said movable arcing contact and closely coupled to said impulse coil means when said movable arcing contact is engaged with said stationary arcing contact;

distance, and which is free of permanent axial distortion, whereby said movable arcing contact can always assume a precise axial position when engaging said stationary arcing contact without jeopardizing the integrity of the seal at said circular sealing ring due to slight wear thereat.

14. The circuit interrupter of claim 13 wherein said circular sealing ring is inflated and, thereby, is flexibly distorted toward said movable arcing contact.

15. The circuit interrupter of claim 14 wherein said circular sealing ring is internally connected to said high-pressure volume. 

1. In a high-voltage circuit interrupter, a valve structure; said high-voltage circuit interrupter comprising: a stationary contact having a central orifice therethrough; a movable cylindrically shaped contact axially movable from an axially spaced and disengaged position relative to said stationary contact to an engaged position relative to said stationary contact; an annular ring-shaped valve seat disposed on a side surface of said stationary contact and surrounding said orifice and facing said movable contact; an annular ring-shaped protrusion on said movable contact on a surface thereof facing said ring-shaped valve seat and being engageable in sealing relation with said valve seat when said movable contact moves to its said engaged position; gas pressure source means for forcing gas through said orifice when said ring-shaped protrusion moves out of sealing engagement with said ring-shaped valve seat; said annular ring-shaped valve seat consisting of a ring which is elastically deflectable over a relatively large axial distance, and which is free of permanent axial distortion, whereby said movable contact can always assume a precise axial position when engaging said stationary contact without jeopardizing the integrity of the seal at said annular ringshaped valve seat due to slight wear thereat.
 2. The circuit interrupter of claim 1 wherein said annular ring-shaped valve seat is inflated and, thereby is flexibly distorted toward said movable contact.
 3. The circuit interrupter of claim 2 wherein said annular ring-shaped valve seat is internally connected to said gas pressure source means.
 4. The circuit interrupter of claim 2 which further includes a downstream cutoff valve positioned downstream of said orifice and including an axially movable cylindrical sleEve and a second annular ring-shaped valve seat engageable by one end of said cylindrical sleeve; said second annular ring-shaped valve seat being inflated and, thereby, being flexibly distorted toward said end of said cylindrical sleeve.
 5. The circuit interrupter of claim 4 wherein said annular ring-shaped valve seat and said second annular ring-shaped valve seat are internally connected to said gas pressure source means.
 6. The circuit interrupter of claim 2 wherein said annular ring-shaped valve seat includes a circular frame member, a flexible diaphragm disposed on said frame member, and annular clamping plates for clamping said diaphragm over said circular frame member; said circular frame member having apertures therethrough for introducing gas pressure against one surface of said flexible diaphragm.
 7. The circuit interrupter of claim 6 wherein said apertures are connected to said gas pressure source means.
 8. The circuit interrupter of claim 1 wherein said annular ring-shaped protrusion is disposed radially outwardly of the contact region between said movable and stationary contacts, whereby said valve structure is upstream of any arc products created during the opening of said contacts.
 9. A valve structure for a synchronously operated high-voltage circuit interrupter; said high-voltage circuit interrupter comprising: a stationary contact haing a central orifice therethrough; a movable cylindrically shaped contact axially movable from an axially spaced and disengaged position relative to said stationary contact to an engaged position relative to said stationary contact; a synchronous operating mechanism including a stationarily positioned impulse coil and a conductive ring connected to said movable contact for cooperating with said impulse coil; said impulse coil and conductive ring being closely coupled to one another along their side surfaces perpendicular to the axis of said movable contact when said movable contact is in its said engaged position; said movable contact being accelerated toward its said disengaged position responsive to energization of said impulse coil; an annular ring-shaped valve seat disposed on a side surface of said stationary contact and surrounding said orifice and facing said movable contact; an annular ring-shaped protrusion on said movable contact on a surface thereof facing said ring-shaped valve seat and being engageable in sealing relation with said valve seat when said movable contact moves to its said engaged position; gas pressure source means for forcing gas through said orifice when said ring-shaped protrusion moves out of sealing engagement with said ring-shaped valve seat; said annular ring-shaped valve seat consisting of a ring which is elastically deflectable over a relatively large axial distance, and which is free of permanent axial distortion, whereby said movable contact can always assume a precise axial position when engaging said stationary contact without jeopardizing the integrity of the seal at said annular ring-shaped valve seat due to slight wear thereat.
 10. The circuit interrupter of claim 9 wherein said annular ring-shaped valve seat is inflated and, thereby, is flexibly distorted toward said movable contact.
 11. The circuit interrupter of claim 10 wherein said annular ring-shaped valve seat is internally connected to said gas pressure source means.
 12. The circuit interrupter of claim 10 wherein said annular ring-shaped valve seat includes a circular frame member, a flexible diaphragm disposed on said frame member, and annular clamping plates for clamping said diaphragm over said circular frame member; said circular frame member having apertures therethrough for introducing gas pressure against one surface of said flexible diaphragm.
 13. A two-pressure gas blast synchronous circuit interrupter comprising, in combination: a pressure container having a high-pressure volume and a low-pressure volume, and means for connecting high-pressure gas and low-pressure Gas to said high and low-pressure volumes, respectively; a main stationary contact and a main movable contact cooperable therewith mounted within said pressure container; said main movable contact consisting of a hollow cylindrical member movable along its axis between an engaged and disengaged position relative to said main stationary contact; a stationary arcing contact having an orifice therethrough communicable between said high and low-pressure volumes and a movable arcing contact cooperable therewith mounted within said pressure container; said stationary arcing contact comprising an elongated hollow cylindrical member movable along its axis and being coaxial with said main movable contact and disposed internally within said hollow cylindrical member defining said main movable contact; a blast valve for permitting communication between said high and low-pressure volumes and comprising a circular sealing ring mounted around said orifice in said stationary arcing contact and a cooperating annular sealing means on one end surface of said movable arcing contact which moves into and out of sealing engagement with said circular sealing ring when said movable arcing contact moves to an engaged and disengaged position respectively with respect to said stationary arcing contact; said stationary and movable arcing contacts making contact within the interior of said circular sealing ring and said low-pressure volume extending into the interior of said orifice in said stationary arcing contact, whereby, when said movable arcing contact moves to a disengaged position, gas is moved from said high-pressure volume and through said arcing contacts and through said orifice; and impulse coil means stationarily positioned relative to said movable arcing contact and impulse coil cooperating means formed on said movable arcing contact and closely coupled to said impulse coil means when said movable arcing contact is engaged with said stationary arcing contact; said impulse coil means causing initial movement of said movable arcing contact away from said stationary arcing contact, thereby to open said blast valve; said movable arcing contact having a surface area disposed within said circular sealing ring which is exposed to the high pressure of said high-pressure volume immediately upon the opening of said blast valve; and circuit means for energizing said impulse coil means only at a given time prior to zero current magnitude through said arcing contacts; said circular sealing ring consisting of a ring which is elastically deflectable over a relatively large axial distance, and which is free of permanent axial distortion, whereby said movable arcing contact can always assume a precise axial position when engaging said stationary arcing contact without jeopardizing the integrity of the seal at said circular sealing ring due to slight wear thereat.
 14. The circuit interrupter of claim 13 wherein said circular sealing ring is inflated and, thereby, is flexibly distorted toward said movable arcing contact.
 15. The circuit interrupter of claim 14 wherein said circular sealing ring is internally connected to said high-pressure volume. 